A HORSE trainer who was on trial in Derry this week accused of killing and raping a female showjumper has been found dead.
Jonathan Creswell, 36, denied the rape and murder of Katie Simpson, 21.
Jonathan Creswell, 36, denied the rape and murder of Katie Simpson, 21PSNI HANDOUT
Katie Simpson died o August, 3 2020
Ms Simpson, who was from Tynan, Co Armagh, died in hospital almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, on August, 3 2020.
The trial involving Creswell started at Derry Crown Court, sitting in Coleraine, this week.
Creswell had been granted bail and was attending hearings.
However the trial came to an end on Wednesday following the sudden death of Creswell.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said the death is not being treated as suspicious.
“Police attended the sudden death of a man at an address in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry this morning, April 24,” they said.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
Ahead of the trial getting underway this week, the jury of eight women and four men were directed by the trial Judge Neil Rafferty not to carry out any internet research into the case.
He said: “Please do not be tempted to conduct any research on the internet on your own. Do not make up your minds until you have heard all of the evidence. Do not be influenced by any media coverage, don’t look at it, don’t read it.”
During the selection process Judge Rafferty told the then potential jurors that they could not sit on the jury if they were involved in the equestrian scene “in the province of Ulster” including show jumping, eventing, point to point or hunting, nor could they sit on the jury if they knew any of the people involved in the case.
The trial had been expected to last between four and six weeks, before the shock conclusion today.
In excess of seventy people were due to give evidence.
Among those were members of the deceased’s family and some of her friends, medical staff from Altnagelvin Hospital and from other hospitals in Northern Ireland, six police officers, two forensic witnesses and a pathologist.